Hello, we have finally bought our first rv after a lot of hopefully helpful research. We have a 2005 bt cruiser 5250. When we bought the rv it was 3/4 full of gas, no odors. When we got it home we had 1/4 tank. We then took it to the gas station a couple of days later and filled it up. Just about a mile down the road the co2 detector went off and we noticed a faint smell of gas. I silenced the co2 alarm and it did not go off again. By the time we got home, another 4 mile, the smell was gone and did not return. My husband visually check the tanks and seals and did not see any leaking? Any concerns we should have or could this be normal. He did not have any gas on him. Thanks zigpep

Should not have a gas smell unless:- Something is leaking- Stepped in or splashed gas on hands/clothes while filling- Sometimes filling the tank to the top will cause smell for short period of time in some vehicles.

I asume you are refering to propane gas, fill the tank ands close the valve and when at home, fill a spray bottle with water and some dish washer detergent couple of skirts of detergent is enough.DO NOT TURN ANY APIANCES ON AT ALL, YOU DO NOT WANT ANY FLAME OR HOT SURFACE!Open the valve at the tank and start spraying "ALL" the conections on the line from the tank to the water heater, the stove, tha cabin heater and the refrigerator and any other propane using apliances.You might have to pull drawers and open cabinets to get to all the "T" fittings and all the couplings, even the ones under the RV, when there is a leak you will see the bubles, to tighten the fitings you need to use two wrenches to counter each other, if you only use one wrench all you are going to do is twist the copper lines, if there is a rubber line and a copper line nothing will happen to the rubber line but the copper line will be damaged.Check inside and out side, DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN when you tighten the fittings to much they tend to crack, do not turn any apliance or any electric device while you look for propane leaks. Some fitting that are made in China are worthless they come all ready cracked from the factory and or not round, if so you will need to replace those fittings, if it happens to be a cracked copper line, you might need to cut the line and slice a sgment, I do not recomend using a torch, as in FLAME, inside the RV, if you do not know to do the work, how have a profesional do the work.navegator

navegator wrote:I asume you are refering to propane gas, fill the tank ands close the valve and when at home, fill a spray bottle with water and some dish washer detergent couple of skirts of detergent is enough.DO NOT TURN ANY APIANCES ON AT ALL, YOU DO NOT WANT ANY FLAME OR HOT SURFACE!Open the valve at the tank and start spraying "ALL" the conections on the line from the tank to the water heater, the stove, tha cabin heater and the refrigerator and any other propane using apliances.You might have to pull drawers and open cabinets to get to all the "T" fittings and all the couplings, even the ones under the RV, when there is a leak you will see the bubles, to tighten the fitings you need to use two wrenches to counter each other, if you only use one wrench all you are going to do is twist the copper lines, if there is a rubber line and a copper line nothing will happen to the rubber line but the copper line will be damaged.Check inside and out side, DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN when you tighten the fittings to much they tend to crack, do not turn any apliance or any electric device while you look for propane leaks. Some fitting that are made in China are worthless they come all ready cracked from the factory and or not round, if so you will need to replace those fittings, if it happens to be a cracked copper line, you might need to cut the line and slice a sgment, I do not recomend using a torch, as in FLAME, inside the RV, if you do not know to do the work, how have a profesional do the work.navegatorI don't know why you "assumed" that, they were talking about propane, the OP stated that they went to a gas station and filled up. That would imply to me that they're talking about gasoline.

If they opened the bleeder valve. It is possable you got a little propane in the MH.Especially if you had the entry Dior open. Not sure what side your propane tank is on.

What is true is if you can smell it then it's present. You shouldn't be able to smell it.

Gas smell | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

BruceMc
Explorer III
Sep 09, 2014
Zigpep wrote:
... I also looked up the co2 detector manual and it states propane, gas, aeresols, even air fresheners can set it off. ...
Thanks zigpep

Good info! The propane detector is mounted low to the floor as propane is heavier than air. Gasoline fumes are also heavier than air which is why it is mandated to put natural gas water heaters on a stand in garages in stick-built homes.

Thanks for the update.
derh20
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
i had a similar problem with my C. i smelled propane inside my coach, primarily when i opened and closed the fidge. i know this sounds weird, but we had a tech check it out with a "propane sniffer", the problem turned out to be the valve at the propane tank was not closed completely tight. gas, being heavier than air, was leaking and flowed underneath the coach and apparently came up into the outside compartment of the fridge and then into the fridge itself. After we tightened it, the smell was gone. Since we had just filled the propane tank, this kinda makes sense.
Bordercollie
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014
There has always been a temporary moderately-strong smell of propane gas after we have tank filled since our 2004 rig was new. The smell dissipates quickly. If the smell hangs around for more than a few minutes, I would be concerned about leakage.
Zigpep
Explorer
Sep 07, 2014
Hello, I was referring to gas not propane in my post. Also you can smell the difference and it was definantly gas. I also looked up the co2 detector manual and it states propane, gas, aeresols, even air fresheners can set it off. I am sorry I did not specify gas. I found both the posts about gas and propane useful. I think the 2 most likely explanations are maybe slight overfill or the kink in the hose. Will wait until next time and see what happens. We have had no additional gas odors so far.
Thanks zigpep
obgraham
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
This is the problem I also have with OP's scenario. How would gasoline (the fuel kind) trigger the CO detector, or the CO/LP combo if that's what is installed?

If we are talking gasoline smell here, then I think the alarm is a red herring, and more likely due to either a low battery condition, or faulty/aged out detector.
BruceMc
Explorer III
Sep 05, 2014
From the original post:
"... Just about a mile down the road the co2 detector went off and we noticed a faint smell of gas. I silenced the co2 alarm ..."

Question: Does a CO2 detector sound an alarm with raw gasoline fumes?

Raw gas is not Carbon Dioxide - that's one of the by-products of burning gas and propane.

Hmmmm...
rvten
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
Without the DH giving a few more details.
Did he over fill ?
Possible they were behind another vehicle and sucked in gas fumes from it. Through the front vent.
Faulty Co2 alarm.should be replaced about every 5 years. There's is an 05 MH.
j-d
Explorer II
Sep 05, 2014
Assuming it's Gas-O-Line...

Many RV's have a "fuel filler" that connect (with flexible hose) to a large tube (fill) and a small tube (vent) that lead from the filler toward the Gasoline Tank. Then there may be a bend or two and finally connections to the Tank (more flexible hose).

The flexible tubing can break down and allow leaks of liquid gasoline and/or vapor.

Another possibility - There's an evaporative canister under the hood. Several small tubes connect to it. I've had them break down and allow lots of odor into the engine compartment, which isn't all that far from the cockpit.
navegator
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
Good for all of you to piont out that it was a mistake on my part, I will now only read and not volunteer any mor helpfull comments since you are all so fast at pointing a simple mistake. my information on the procedure to find a PROPANE LEAK is still valid.

I just hoppe that the owner of this RV does not catch fire while on the road!

navegator
mgirardo
Explorer
Sep 05, 2014
I think the assumption was bad too. How could they use 1/2 tank of propane driving the RV home after they bought it?

When we bought the rv it was 3/4 full of gas, no odors. When we got it home we had 1/4 tank.

The fact that she mentioned "he did not have any gas on him" should be another sign it can't be propane.

-Michael

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Gas smell

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